Pirates acquire Vance Worley from Twins

The Pittsburgh Pirates have acquired right-hander Vance Worley from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for cash considerations, according to a team announcement. Worley, who was outrighted off the Twins' 40-man roster over the weekend, will head to minor league camp with Pittsburgh.

Worley, who was the Twins' Opening Day starter last year, lost his rotation spot once the team signed starters Phil Hughes and Ricky Nolasco to multi-year deals this winter. He struggled in ten starts with the Twins last year, posting a 7.21 ERA in 48.2 innings of work, and had even worse numbers in spring training this year (13.50 ERA in 10.2 innings). He will head to the Pirates in hopes of regaining the form that led him to a 3.01 ERA in 25 appearances (21 starts) with the Phillies in 2011.

Edinson Volquez is slated to be the Pirates' fifth starter to begin the season, but the team may need some additional depth now that Francisco Liriano and Jameson Taillon are dealing with some injury issues. If either of those two are not ready for the season, Worley could get a look at the major league level for the Pirates, or they could stash him at Triple-A Indianapolis to see how he is performing.

In four major league seasons with the Phillies (2010-2012) and Twins (2013), Worley has posted a lifetime 19-18 record and 4.05 ERA in 63 games (53 games started). He was average with Triple-A Rochester after being demoted last year, posting a 3.88 ERA in nine starts.